The Third Jihad Kerfuffle

A second look at the controversial documentary.

Did the New York City Police Department use "terrible judgment," as Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, when it showed a documentary about Islamist extremists -- The Third Jihad -- to more than 1,400 officers undergoing counterterrorism training?

You might think so if you took your cues from a New York Times editorial calling the documentary a "hate-filled film about Muslims," or from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which declared that it "defiled our faith and misrepresented everything we stood for."

Dr. Zuhdi Jasser fervently disagrees.

Jasser is a former US Navy officer and a past president of the Arizona Medical Association. He is also an observant Muslim, a Wisconsin-reared son of Syrian immigrants deeply grateful for the freedom and tolerance his parents found in America. Ever since 9/11, he has been fighting the Islamist extremists whose goal is to destroy that freedom and tolerance.

"As a devout Muslim I saw it as my responsibility to expose the radicals," Jasser says in The Third Jihad, which he narrated. "I resented that they were exploiting the religion I love."

After al-Qaeda's murder of 3,000 Americans, Jasser recalls in the film, "I had expected to see Muslims in America taking to the streets and protesting against [Osama] bin Laden. Instead, in the years that followed, we saw many Muslim leaders standing up to defend or support the radicals." So he launched the American Islamic Forum for Democracy to defend American values, promote the separation of mosque and state, and expose the Islamist agenda behind certain influential Muslim organizations.

The best-known of those organizations, CAIR, describes itself as a civil-rights group. In reality it is anything but. Its founders were linked to the terror group Hamas and several of its officials have been convicted or deported on terrorism-related charges. In the Holy Land Foundation terror-funding trial, as former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and former CIA Director Jim Woolsey recounted recently, CAIR was designated by the Justice Department as an unindicted co-conspirator. The Third Jihad shows news footage of CAIR's national legislative director refusing a reporter's request to condemn Hamas and Hezbollah. That is par for the course -- CAIR wouldn't even condemn bin Laden until more than two months after 9/11 -- and helps explain why the FBI severed its ties to CAIR.

Far from being an indiscriminate attack on Islam or Muslims, The Third Jihad consistently distinguishes between Islam's peaceful, moderate mainstream and the totalitarian jihadists who seek a global Islamic theocracy. The documentary's opening lines are unambiguous: "This is not a film about Islam. It is about the threat of radical Islam. Only a small percentage of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims are radical."

But where those radicals hold sway, liberty and pluralism are endangered. "Have you ever stopped to think about what would happen if the Islamists won and their version of Sharia law was put into place?" Jasser asks. The 72-minute film depicts the chilling consequences: Subjugation of religious minorities. Abuse of women. "Honor" killings. Anti-gay brutality. Stifling of free speech. Support for terrorism.

Bin Laden may be dead and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed behind bars, but a key message of the film is that jihadists pursue their goal of a West dominated by radical Islam with undiminished fervor. "On my website we talk about the Islamic state of North America by 2050," says Imam Abdul Musa, a prominent Islamist interviewed for The Third Jihad.

Radical groups like CAIR use the calumny of anti-Muslim bigotry to defame those who warn of Islamist militancy. Fear of being smeared has intimidated too many politicians and journalists, which is why the Zuhdi Jassers of the world -- devoted Muslims who are pro-American, pro-democracy, and anti-Islamist -- are inestimable allies in the war against the jihadists.

Happily, he is not fighting alone. During the recent furor over the film, New York City Councilman Robert Jackson, a Muslim, refused to toe the CAIR line. "I initially thought from reading about it that it cast a negative image on all Muslims," he said. "In my opinion it does not. It focuses on the extreme Muslims that are trying to hurt other people." Similarly, the American Islamic Leadership Coalition issued a strong statement defending The Third Jihad as "factually accurate and important."

You needn't take their word for it. Watch the film for yourself at TheThirdJihad.com, and gain crucial insight into one of the central struggles of our time: the war of ideas within Islam.

Visitor Comments: 8

(7)
Imran Ali,
February 25, 2012 9:52 PM

Maimonides, Islam and Jews

Maimonides, a great Jewish personality was born in Cordoba, spent much time in Muslim lands and died in Egypt. He was a product of the golden age of Jewish civilisation in Muslim Spain. Jews were accepted and even served as advisors in the Islamic government. More recently, during the world war, Muslims of Bosnia hid Jewish scriptures and age old artefacts under the floorboards of the mosques. On many occasions, Jews found sanctuary in the Islamic Caliphate, Ottoman or Moorish. Maimonides himself argued that Islam was not idolatrous as it firmly rejects anything but monotheism. I do not dispute that Jews under the Caliphate were not equal to the Muslims, however, they were more widely accepted, tolerated and integrated into the social, economic and political fabric of life - compared to life under Christian rule. True peace starts with searching for common ground. Prophet Muhammad was a statesman - and just like any other statesman he went to war, defensive or offensive. He was also a father, a dear friend, a community leader and a husband. In the Qur'an there are more references to peace relative to war. In no way is it a pacifist faith - otherwise it would not have survived. Judaism has had to fight for it's survival, Isreal has army dedicated to protecting the national interest, it Jewish civilisation and it's future. For those who comment "read the Qur'an yourselves" - I too, as a Muslim encourage you, but read with an open heart, not selectively to justify a stereotype. There is much in the past that binds together Jews and Muslims and to suggest that Islam encourages "killing and enslaving of infidels" is nothing short of sheer misunderstanding. Infidels is not a term in the Qur'an - it was a term used by Pope Urban 2 to describe the Saracen Muslims and "Christ-Killing Jews" during the Crusades. There is more that keeps us together, than keeps us apart, if only we choose not to ignore it. Shalom.

I have watched this DVD many times. It contains essential footage of extremists making chilling statements of their intention to take over the West, and evidence of recruitment of violent prisoners through their conversion to Islam.

(5)
mark,
February 14, 2012 8:40 PM

read the koran-see for yourself...

see that a good muslim MUST kill, enslave and/or rule non believers. The docter is a good guy,but a bad muslim by their own definition. Muslim koran re - writes or reformation is a tanget Islam will, out of fear ,not take .How God will end their chapter in history is a puzzle so far,but they are a mess right now. The west is their biggest challenger and test(for them). . The world is watching and so too is our creator......

(4)
Mark Goldberg,
February 14, 2012 6:35 PM

Re: Kerfuffle

The problem is that Mohammed taught everything that the 'Jihadists' use and quote, as do all the legal schools of Islamic jurisprudence, which call for the submission of all infidels as a muslim obligation for all time, everywhere, forever.
Now... the fact that most people are people and if they grow up in another land where there are such rights for others, they don't go out and bomb, slaughter or merely submit infidels. Just as most national socialist supporters in germany didn't either, but their theology, philosophy, like Islam commands dominion so the good folks who just want to belong to something for family and nation are soon either silent or dead. And so it is with muslims. Yes... there are nice fine people who are muslims. And they will never march against the atrocities of Islam because they KNOW,,, that by Islamic law... they are next. So. Zudi Jasser if fine, but there are no such moderate movements anywhere because Islam does not allow such to even exist without being tortured. Ala, the Ahmadiyas, who are burnt and beaten to death for being ... apostates, or others who've arisen over the last couple hundre years. They have no authority. Period. Witness finally, what Thomas Jefferson was told by the muslim north african ambassador as to why the muslim attacked the first american ships in 1789 that went thru the straits of Gibraltar: "
… that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman who should be slain in Battle was sure to go to Paradise."
did you read that? Do you think he wasn't a moderate?

(3)
Dean,
February 14, 2012 3:00 PM

CAIR nervous about third Jihad because it is accurate

CAIR is nervous because The Third Jihad is an accurate portrayal of islamic goals for the West.The West is asleep and CAIR wants to keep it that way. The more the West sleeps, the easier the battle for islam. Islam absolutely hates the revelation of its true plans for world conquest.

(2)
Richter,
February 14, 2012 2:49 PM

I refuse to make a distinction between "peaceful" and fanatic muslims as long as The "peaceful" don´t reject absolutely the Fanatisme of their "brothers". Where do they demonstrate? When do they shout against radical Islam, where do they write against it? I would be happy to see Millions of Dr. Jasser. But what I see is the Victory of Islamists when Elections are held. I will not make any difference so long the
"peaceful" shut their mouth. Let them make a difference and then I will do it also! Edmond the Tiger

(1)
hrothgar,
February 13, 2012 11:59 PM

I am a little confused by Dr. Jasser's statements.He sounds like a good and decent man but what parts of Islam does he not believe is correct or should not be followed?Islam does not allow it's followers to pick and choose,you are either in or out.Dr.Jasser it seems is trying to reform Islam and change the way it relates to living in the real world especially those parts of the world that belive in Democracy and the freedom of the individual to follow his own beliefs.This is a good thing but is quite a long way from the philosophy of Islam which believes itself to be the perfect and last word of allah and Mohammed to be the perfect example for human beings to follow.A lot of moslims will consider him apostate.Islam does not do self reflection or self criticism;how can it when it believes that it is already perfect and beyond any interpretation?

I'm told that it's a mitzvah to become intoxicated on Purim. This puzzles me, because to my understanding, it is not considered a good thing to become intoxicated, period.

One of the characteristics of the at-risk youth is their use of drugs, including alcohol. In my experience, getting drunk doesn't reveal secrets. It makes people act stupid and irresponsible, doing things they would never do if they were sober. Also, I know a lot about the horrible health effects of abusing alcohol, because I work at a research center that focuses on addiction and substance abuse.

Also, I am an alcoholic, which means that if I drink, very bad things happen. I have not had a drink in 22 years, and I have no intention of starting now. Surely there must be instances where a person is excused from the obligation to drink. I don't see how Judaism could ever promote the idea of getting drunk. It just doesn't seem right.

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Putting aside for a moment all the spiritual and philosophical reasons for getting drunk on Purim, this remains an issue of common sense. Of course, teenagers should be warned of the dangers of acute alcohol ingestion. Of course, nobody should drink and drive. Of course, nobody should become so drunk to the point of negligence in performing mitzvot. And of course, a recovering alcoholic should not partake of alcohol on Purim.

Indeed, the Code of Jewish Law explicitly says that if one suspects the drinking may affect him negatively, then he should NOT drink.

Getting drunk on Purim is actually one of the most difficult mitzvot to do correctly. A person should only drink if it will lead to positive spiritual results - e.g. under the loosening affect of the alcohol, greater awareness will surface of the love for God and Torah found deep in the heart. (Perhaps if we were on a higher spiritual level, we wouldn't need to get drunk!)

Yet the Talmud still speaks of an obligation on Purim of "not knowing the difference between Blessed is Mordechai and Cursed is Haman." How then should a person who doesn't drink get the point of “not knowing”? Simple - just go to sleep! (Rama - OC 695:2)

All this applies to individuals. But the question remains - does drinking on Purim adversely affect the collective social health of the Jewish community?

The aversion to alcoholism is engrained into Jewish consciousness from a number of Biblical and Talmudic sources. There are the rebuking words of prophets - Isaiah 28:1, Hosea 3:1 with Rashi, and Amos 6:6, and the Zohar says that "The wicked stray after wine" (Midrash Ne'alam Parshat Vayera).

It is well known that the rate of alcoholism among Jews has historically been very low. Numerous medical, psychological and sociological studies have confirmed this. The connection between Judaism and sobriety is so evident, that the following conversation is reported by Lawrence Kelemen in "Permission to Receive":

When Dr. Mark Keller, editor of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, commented that "practically all Jews do drink, and yet all the world knows that Jews hardly ever become alcoholics," his colleague, Dr. Howard Haggard, director of Yale's Laboratory of Applied Physiology, jokingly proposed converting alcoholics to the Jewish religion in order to immerse them in a culture with healthy attitudes toward drinking!

Perhaps we could suggest that it is precisely because of the use of alcohol in traditional ceremonies (Kiddush, Bris, Purim, etc.), that Jews experience such low rates of alcoholism. This ceremonial usage may actually act like an inoculation - i.e. injecting a safe amount that keeps the disease away.

Of course, as we said earlier, all this needs to be monitored with good common sense. Yet in my personal experience - having been in the company of Torah scholars who were totally drunk on Purim - they acted with extreme gentleness and joy. Amid the Jewish songs and beautiful words of Torah, every year the event is, for me, very special.

Adar 12 marks the dedication of Herod's renovations on the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 11 BCE. Herod was king of Judea in the first century BCE who constructed grand projects like the fortresses at Masada and Herodium, the city of Caesarea, and fortifications around the old city of Jerusalem. The most ambitious of Herod's projects was the re-building of the Temple, which was in disrepair after standing over 300 years. Herod's renovations included a huge man-made platform that remains today the largest man-made platform in the world. It took 10,000 men 10 years just to build the retaining walls around the Temple Mount; the Western Wall that we know today is part of that retaining wall. The Temple itself was a phenomenal site, covered in gold and marble. As the Talmud says, "He who has not seen Herod's building, has never in his life seen a truly grand building."

Some people gauge the value of themselves by what they own. But in reality, the entire concept of ownership of possessions is based on an illusion. When you obtain a material object, it does not become part of you. Ownership is merely your right to use specific objects whenever you wish.

How unfortunate is the person who has an ambition to cleave to something impossible to cleave to! Such a person will not obtain what he desires and will experience suffering.

Fortunate is the person whose ambition it is to acquire personal growth that is independent of external factors. Such a person will lead a happy and rewarding life.

With exercising patience you could have saved yourself 400 zuzim (Berachos 20a).

This Talmudic proverb arose from a case where someone was fined 400 zuzim because he acted in undue haste and insulted some one.

I was once pulling into a parking lot. Since I was a bit late for an important appointment, I was terribly annoyed that the lead car in the procession was creeping at a snail's pace. The driver immediately in front of me was showing his impatience by sounding his horn. In my aggravation, I wanted to join him, but I saw no real purpose in adding to the cacophony.

When the lead driver finally pulled into a parking space, I saw a wheelchair symbol on his rear license plate. He was handicapped and was obviously in need of the nearest parking space. I felt bad that I had harbored such hostile feelings about him, but was gratified that I had not sounded my horn, because then I would really have felt guilty for my lack of consideration.

This incident has helped me to delay my reactions to other frustrating situations until I have more time to evaluate all the circumstances. My motives do not stem from lofty principles, but from my desire to avoid having to feel guilt and remorse for having been foolish or inconsiderate.

Today I shall...

try to withhold impulsive reaction, bearing in mind that a hasty act performed without full knowledge of all the circumstances may cause me much distress.

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